Category Manager - Renewable Energy

Company Overview

GIS

is a premier energy services company delivering comprehensive solutions across the evolving energy landscape. While rooted in over 75 years of excellence in offshore and onshore construction and maintenance within the oil and gas industry, GIS has expanded its capabilities to include large-scale utility solar farm construction projects. Our continued commitment to safety, innovation, and operational excellence allows us to support both traditional and renewable energy sectors with the same trusted expertise.

Position Summary:

The Category Manager – Renewable Energy plays a strategic role in managing procurement activities and supplier partnerships within the renewable energy and utility-scale construction sectors. This position focuses on high-value categories such as solar panels, inverters, piles, electrical equipment, balance-of-system (BOS) components, and wind farm contracts. The Category Manager is responsible for developing category strategies, executing sourcing initiatives, negotiating supplier agreements, and supporting overall supply chain optimization. Working cross-functionally with engineering, project management, and construction teams, this individual ensures cost competitiveness, supply reliability, and alignment with project timelines and sustainability goals.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Category Management

- Develop and execute category strategies for renewable energy commodities (modules, inverters, transformers, piles, racking, cabling, substations, switchgear, etc.).

- Analyze renewable energy market trends, supplier landscapes, and cost drivers to identify competitive opportunities.

- Conduct spend and risk analyses to support sourcing decisions and lifecycle cost management.

- Create and maintain Direct Contract cheat sheets and risk assessments for assigned projects or business units.

- Review category risk assessments and contract documentation during project kick-off meetings.

- Collaborate closely with internal stakeholders—including Engineering, Project Controls, Construction, and Finance—to ensure alignment of category plans with project and budget goals.

Sourcing & Procurement Support

- Lead & manage Project Procurement sourcing and purchasing activities

- Lead or support RFx (RFP, RFQ, RFI) processes for renewable energy categories and subcontract scopes.

- Negotiate pricing, contract terms, and delivery schedules with key OEMs and suppliers to drive cost savings and value creation.

- Evaluate technical and commercial proposals based on total cost of ownership and lifecycle value.

- Manage supplier onboarding and qualification, ensuring alignment with company, client, and sustainability requirements.

- Track supplier performance, warranties, and logistics execution through all project phases (pre-construction through commissioning).

Supplier Relationship Management

- Develop and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with Tier-1 suppliers, EPCs, and service providers across the renewable supply chain.

- Conduct quarterly supplier business reviews to monitor KPIs, delivery performance, and quality metrics.

- Support risk management initiatives by identifying critical supply chain vulnerabilities and mitigation actions (e.g., long-lead items, single-source suppliers).

- Drive supplier innovation and continuous improvement in quality, cost, and delivery performance.

Supply Chain Optimization

- Partner with logistics, planning, and project execution teams to ensure timely material delivery to construction sites.

- Identify and eliminate bottlenecks across sourcing, procurement, and logistics processes.

- Contribute to process automation, digital procurement tools, and ERP utilization (SAP, Oracle, or D365).

- Support material demand planning to align supplier production with project build schedules.

Data Analysis & Reporting

- Track and report on cost savings, market trends, supplier performance, and risk exposure across renewable categories.

- Utilize spend analytics and procurement dashboards to support business case development and leadership reporting.

- Maintain accurate category data and documentation within ERP/procurement systems.

Education & Experience

- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or related field.

- Minimum 7–10 years of experience in category management, strategic sourcing, or procurement, including 3–5 years in renewable energy, solar, wind, or EPC construction environments.

- Minimum 2-3 years of experiencing leading project procurement activities

- Proven experience managing supplier agreements and equipment categories such as solar modules, inverters, transformers, piles, racking systems, or substations.

- Experience with ERP (SAP, Oracle, Ariba, or Microsoft D365) preferred.

Skills & Competencies

- Strong negotiation, contract management, and supplier relationship skills.

- Strong leadership and ability to take proactive measures to assure project success

- Deep understanding of renewable energy supply chains, long-lead procurement, and logistics.

- Analytical mindset with expertise in spend analysis and market intelligence.

- Strong cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder management skills.

- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Power BI, and other data visualization or analytics tools.

- Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple concurrent projects.

Qualifications

- Willingness to travel occasionally to supplier sites or project locations.

- Customer-service oriented, with a mindset of treating internal teams as valued partners.

- Serves as Subject Matter Expert (SME) for assigned renewable energy categories and business units.

Physical Requirements:

- Work Environment:

This job operates in a professional office setting. The role may require occasional travel.

- Physical Demands:

This role requires the ability to sit for extended periods while working on a computer. Ability to occasionally lift and carry up to 20 pounds.

EEOC Statement:

GIS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.